30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (2024)

Thanksgiving seems centered around turkey. From the hearty stuffing to the thick ‘n’ juicy gravy, almost everything is made with or around the turkey and its drippings. So, how do vegetarians get by? Easily! Meatless lasagnas make for a great main, stuffing can be made delicious without the bird, and those perfectly cooked veg sides can be hella filling. See for yourself with these 30 tempting vegetarian-friendly holiday recipes.

Turk'y Wellington with Mushroom Stuffing

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With an oyster mushroom stuffing, you won't miss the turkey in this delicious and savory main meal by Farm Sanctuary Cafe Chef Gail Patak. Try the mashed potatoes and gravy recipes included too! (via Farm Sanctuary)

Vegan Meatloaf

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Image via Jessica in the Kitchen

Loaded with chickpeas and lentils, this hearty cheatloaf makes for a perfect main to go alongside all of those tasty sides. (via Jessica in the Kitchen)

Green Beans With Brown Butter, Crispy Shallots, and Hazelnuts

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Image via Two Peas and Their Pod

This recipe kicks your regular ol’ green beans up a few notches by adding crispy fried shallots, crunchy hazelnuts, and browned butter. (via Two Peas and Their Pod)

Roasted Squash, Pecan, and Pomegranate Salad

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Image via Minimalist Baker

With minimal prep, this mouthwatering squash and sweet potato salad is the perfect addition to your holiday spread with sugared pecans and a drizzle of pomegranate molasses dressing. (via Minimalist Baker)

Kabocha Squash Lasagna

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Image via Umami Girl

Not into “tofurky?” Don’t worry, because this veggie-layered lasagna is delicious, filling, and meets all the requirements of being a Thanksgiving main with its autumnal flavors and comforting textures. (via Umami Girl)

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup with Fried Sage and Halloumi

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Image via Floating Kitchen

Throughout the cooler months, a starter soup is the way to go — especially if it’s a silky butternut squash soup slightly sweetened by apples. (via Floating Kitchen)

Veggie Pot Pies with Crispy Potatoes

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Image via Evergreen Kitchen

These vegan and GF pot pies are brimming with robust mushrooms, carrots, and wholesome greens, then topped with crispy potatoes. (via Evergreen Kitchen)

Vegan Caramel Apple Galette

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Here are four vegan desserts from Farm Sanctuary Chef Patak, including Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Bread pudding, Sweet Ricotta and Pine Nut Tart, and this delightful Caramel Apple Galette to satisfy all the sweet cravings.

Vegan Spiral Thanksgiving Tart

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Image via The Colorful Kitchen

Impress your fam and friends with this jaw-dropping tart filled with mashed potatoes, eggplant, carrots, cabbage, earthy rosemary, and your favorite plant-based gravy. (via The Colorful Kitchen)

Caramelized Onion Gravy

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Image via This Wife Cooks

This savory gravy pairs well with a number of other Thanksgiving dishes. Its rich flavor is a show-stopper and its made with vegan butter instead of the typical kind. (via This Wife Cooks)

Porcini Mushroom, Greens, And Forbidden Rice Gratin

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This comfort food is so flavorful and is made with black rice, mushrooms, greens, and rice gratin. It is good for you and can also be made gluten-free! (via Vanilla and Bean)

Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (12)

Image via Vanilla and Bean

This moist and tender cornbread is the perfect mix of sweet and savory. It's so easy to whip up and can be stored in the freezer for future indulgence! (via Vanilla and Bean)

Tempeh Sausage-Stuffed Squash

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Image via Hummusapien

Replace the iconic stuffed turkey by packing a flavor-filled tempeh sausage stuffing into soft roasted acorn squash boats. (via Hummusapien)

Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Carrots

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Image via Crowded Kitchen

These carrots are expertly coated in a sweet and sticky glaze that is seriously so delicious. The pomegranate seed garnish adds an extra layer of flavor and a pop of color. (via Crowded Kitchen)

Mashed Potatoes

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Image via Gastro Plant

These vegan mashed potatoes are oh-so-creamy and savory. They're the ultimate Thanksgiving staple! (via Gastro Plant)

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole

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Image via Joy Food Sunshine

This crave-worthy side tops a velvety sweet potato and apple sauce blend with crunchy pecans for a fall-inspired dish. (via Joy Food Sunshine)

Curry-Roasted Brussels Sprouts

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (17)

Image via The Missing Lokness

Roasted to a golden crisp, these Brussels sprouts bring warming spices and a hint of sweetness to your plate with curry powder and dried cranberries, and it.is.awesome. (via The Missing Lokness)

Nut Roast

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Image via Two Spoons

This meat-free dish is savory and satiating. It's made with wholesome ingredients, including mushrooms, nuts, brown rice, and fresh herbs. (via Two Spoons)

Stovetop Mac and Cheese

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (19)

Image via Earthly Provisions

This stovetop mac and cheese is the ultimate Thanksgiving comfort food. It utilizes raw cashews instead of cheese, which may sound questionable, but trust me it's so good. (via Earthly Provisions)

Butternut Squash Dal

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Image via Cook with Manali

Stock up on naan, because you’ll want to dig into this vegan and GF dal all evening with its combination of lentils, onions, tomato, cumin, and curry leaves. (via Cook With Manali)

Wellington

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Image via Crowded Kitchen

This delicious recipe swaps out the classic beef tenderloin for a savory mushroom filling. It's packed with flavor and equally as yummy as the original! (via Crowded Kitchen)

Cranberry Sauce

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Image via A Virtual Vegan

This vegan cranberry sauce is loaded up with flavor. It has orange juice, orange zest, rosemary, cinnamon, and a splash of booze (but that last one can be swapped out for orange juice)! (via A Virtual Vegan)

Cheesy Scalloped Hannah Sweet Potatoes

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Image via No Eggs or Ham

Thinly sliced sweet potatoes in a thick, cheesy, and sweet white pepper sauce? Sign me up! (via No Eggs or Ham)

Vegan Dinner Rolls

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Image via Veggie Society

It's not Thanksgiving without a basket of fresh, light, and fluffy biscuits. These Italian-style ones are mouth-watering and are sure to be a hit. (via Veggie Society)

Simple Cornbread Sage Stuffing

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Image via The Full Helping

This recipe puts a vegan spin on a Thanksgiving fave so that *everyone* can enjoy it. Made with vegan cornbread, it’s packed with all the right flavors. (via The Full Helping)

Holiday Festive Falafels

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Image via Two Spoons

These yummy falafels are a must-have for your Thanksgiving spread. They're cozy, crispy, vegan, and gluten-free. (via Two Spoons)

Thanksgiving Mushrooms and Potatoes

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Image via Veggie Society

These vegan and gluten-free mushrooms and potatoes are made with chanterelles, caramelized onions, and crispy sage. They're seriously flavorful and something the entire group will enjoy. (via Veggie Society)

Pecan Pie

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Image via The Edgy Veg

This easy recipe tastes just like the traditional pecan pie recipe, just with vegan ingredients that allows the entire group to dig in! (via The Edgy Veg)

Bread Pudding

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Image via Crowded Kitchen

If you're looking for a warm and comforting dessert to enjoy after your scrumptious Thanksgiving meal, this vegan bread pudding is a winner. It has dried fruit, bourbon, cinnamon, and vegan custard. (via Crowded Kitchen)

Follow us on Pinterest for more vegetarian thanksgiving recipes and goodness!

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Dana Sandonato

Born in Canada and now living in the beautiful state of North Carolina, Dana is a coffee-reliant food writer with a healthy appetite, a taste for culinary adventure, a thirst for good beers, and an endless hunger for food photography. When not writing for Brit + Co, she can be found pouring herself into her blog-turned-webzine, Killing Thyme, or taste-testing at local breweries with her husband. Dana's ideal down time includes pizza, marathoning on Netflix, or watching her fave flicks from the 80s and 90s - no matter how great or awful they are!

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (2024)

FAQs

How to be vegetarian on Thanksgiving? ›

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Main Dishes
  1. Vegetarian Mushroom Wellington. Alexa Weibel. ...
  2. Spicy Roasted Mushrooms With Polenta. ...
  3. Ombré Gratin. ...
  4. Baked Brie and Caramelized Vegetable Pie. ...
  5. One-Pot Vegetable Biryani. ...
  6. Broccoli Cheese Casserole. ...
  7. Butternut Squash and Fondue Pie With Pickled Red Chiles. ...
  8. Roasted Mushrooms in Ata Din Din.

What fish instead of turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

How to Eat Fish This Thanksgiving*
  • Maple-Cider Baked Salmon with Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • Slow-Roasted Salmon with Moroccan Carrots. ...
  • Smoked Fish. ...
  • Everything-but-the-bagel Salmon. ...
  • Pan-Fried Fish Cakes and Romesco Sauce with Greens and Quick Pickled Veggies.

Do vegetarians celebrate Thanksgiving? ›

Whether you're looking for a satisfying meatless alternative to turkey or want to have a variety of vegetable-forward side dishes, these vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes are all ideal for holiday gatherings. Start off your meal with crispy kabocha squash fritters or a flavor-packed caramelized onion dip.

What is a silent vegetarian? ›

Most couples opt to prepare for two animal proteins and a "silent," or unadvertised, vegetarian option available upon request.

What is healthier than turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

Try it out on Thanksgiving by substituting tofu for your turkey. Tofu can be cooked in a variety of flavorful ways and comes with a ton of nutritional benefits including a lot of calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin B, and protein.

What did they eat at the first Thanksgiving instead of turkey? ›

So while our Thanksgiving dinner table has a big ol' turkey plated in the center, the first Thanksgiving table was likely filled with ducks, geese, eels, lobster, and venison.

What bird is a good substitute for turkey? ›

When the guest list doesn't call for a 15-plus-pound turkey, these alternative birds give you some delicious options for smaller dinner parties. Impress a date with pheasant, which serves about two. Duck is good for an intimate group of four, and a goose serves a few more with enough for up to six guests.

What is a vegetarian that eats chicken and turkey? ›

A pollotarian diet focuses on whole, plant-based foods with the inclusion of poultry in moderation. As it's rich in high-fiber, plant-based foods and reduces red meat and pork intake, it may benefit heart health, aid weight loss, and protect against type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.

What is a vegetarian alternative to turkey for Christmas? ›

Whether you're going meat-free or not, these vegetarian mains are sure to steal the spotlight on Christmas day.
  • 1Gluten-free vegetarian lasagne. ...
  • 2Christmas vegeducken. ...
  • 3Tomato, ricotta and olive spelt tart with basil. ...
  • 4Cheesy spelt crepes stuffed with buttered leek. ...
  • 5Lentil nut roast with sugo.

What do vegetarians miss from meat? ›

Intake and status of vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, zinc, iodine, calcium and bone turnover markers were generally lower in plant-based dietary patterns compared to meat-eaters. Vegans had the lowest vitamin B12, calcium and iodine intake, and also lower iodine status and lower bone mineral density.

How do you eat vegetarian when your family is not? ›

Make meals that can easily be served to both plant-based eaters and omnivores,” Johnson advises. Think loaded baked potatoes and make-your-own pizzas. Or set out beans, rice, grilled vegetables, corn, and the like, and let everyone customize their own burrito bowls with add-ins of their choice.

How do vegetarians survive without meat? ›

Eat beans, pulses, eggs and other sources of protein

Pulses are particularly important for people who don't get protein by eating meat, fish or dairy products. Other non-dairy sources of protein include eggs and meat alternatives, such as tofu, mycoprotein (such as Quorn), textured vegetable protein and tempeh.

Can vegetarians eat turkey meat? ›

According to the Vegetarian Society, vegetarians are people who do not eat the products or byproducts of animal slaughter. Vegetarians do not consume: meat, such as beef, pork, and game. poultry, such as chicken, turkey, and duck.

How do you transition from meat eater to vegetarian? ›

I suggest a gradual transition into vegetarianism … although you can do it all at once, I've found that for many people, a gradual transition works better. There's no need to give up all meat at once. Try a few new recipes, maybe eat one vegetarian meal for the first week, two for the second, and so on.

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